Distribute copies of Worksheet 2. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a fantasy-adventure children's novel inspired by Chinese folklore. This strong-willed, young Chinese girl lives in the Village of Fruitless Mountain and decides to run off on a quest to change her family's fortune. He takes Minli there, and she tries to give him the one copper coin she has left. Ask them what qualities she showed as she overcame these challenges (for example: courage, cleverness, persistence). While her mother worries and complains about their lot, her father brightens their evenings with storytelling. Two destinies at stake. What benefits did they get from the stories? However, she is still not sure if the film will be made or if it will not be made. It will take more than a goldfish to bring fortune to our house, she says. Bitter and resentful, Minlis mother complains when her husband fills Minlis imagination with enchanting tales of Never-Ending Mountain and the Old Man of the Moon. (Teachers do not have to assign all the stories.). The next day, the family works hard in the rice paddies as always. All rights reserved. 2023 . Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Character Map - Storyboard That After learning about the concept of the frame story, pairs of students take one of the folktales to analyze and then illustrate a key scene from it. Jennifer Rothschild, Prince Georges County Memorial Library System, Oxon Hill, MD, Kirkus Reviews*Starred Review*To change her familys fortunes, a poor Chinese girl embarks on a fantastical quest to discover she already has everything she needs to be happy. You can find this storyboard in the following articles and resources: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon characters in a Character Map. Still, real life faces everyone with difficult challenges that require courage and ingenuity. Assign students the task of thinking of a time when they had a challenge to meet. After contemplating her choices, Minli chooses to ask Dragon's question for him: Why can he not fly? She does so, and immediately Dragon can fly. Both Minli and Dragon have unique character traits and well-thought character development. At the end of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and in her essays, Lin shares photos and drawings and discusses how she came to use and adapt elements of Chinese culture in her stories. What challenges does this character face? The characters and scenes are both appropriate for the book's characters. (Most students will say it is very big and has a huge population; a few may be able to bring up current events involving China.) Have them write three sentences about this challenge in answer to these questions: What qualities did you have to show to meet this challenge? This book is great, I recommend if you want great light reading. Add (B) and use a fork to stir it. Together, they live in a small stick hut in a bleak, dry farming village at the intersection of the . Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery), (You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.). In the morning, her parents are overjoyed that she is home. Once again, she has created a charming, engaging book for young listeners. The Old Man explains that, once every ninety-nine years, someone comes to ask him a question. Created by wonderful reader, Emme (age 11), and perfect for Book Clubs or families that read the book together, this board game is delightful fun. If you read Where The Mountain Meets The Moon, you wouldn't be disappointed because it is an incredible book. Define a frame story and explain the complex way that subsidiary stories are embedded within the novel, Identify different types of challenges in the story. Every night, Minlis father tells her stories about the Jade Dragon that keeps the mountain bare, the greedy and mean Magistrate Tiger, and the Old Man of the Moon who holds everyones destiny. He allows Minli to eat with him in his castle, and she tells him her story. In August 2015, Lin revealed that the film rights for the book had been bought. Minli's mother, Ma, instead despises the stories that Ba tells, feeling that they are simply "nonsense." Photo: Alan Bradley, courtesy ofgracelin.com. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. The Old Man of the Moon. The following day, Minli then sets out, freeing the goldfish so as not to burden her parents further, and leaves the village to find "the old man of the moon". An editor He in turn gives her a line of text written on a page that the Magistrate Tiger ripped out of the Old Man of the Moon's Book of Fortune. That is, does it have a beginning, a middle, and an end? Resources for Socratic seminars for elementary school students can be found online. A Newbery Honor book in 2010, this novel moves on from the ordinary lives of Asian Americans in her other books to a fantastical adventure in a timeless, traditional China. Do you like books with magical elements? Ba, however, seems glad that Minli is so hopeful. She invites them to come with her to see the Old Man, but they laugh and say, Why would we want to change our fortune? Minli is left to ponder these words as she flies a kitemade of both the paper and the thread from the City of Bright Moonlightinto the sky. However, he informs her that she can ask only one question. Before each set of chapters, distribute the questions that students should answer and make sure that they understand what they are looking for. Inspired by these stories, Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man of the Moon to ask him how she can change her familys fortune. Tell students that before they write the story, they are going to practice the skill of using vivid language. by Grace Lin Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Character List These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. Even though you can determine the scene in your head, Grace Lin adds sharp details making the scene more vivid. All at once, Minli realizes that she can live wither fortune; it is not that bad. The principal told me that was not a good idea. What words bring it to life? Optional Activity Grade Level Standard. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life's questions. A-Fu and Da-Fu, twins who are a bit younger than Minli, explain that a vicious magistrate once planned to kill the whole family out of jealousy over their happiness. Go over the worksheet to be sure that students understand it. In the story that the girl told the Great Green Tiger she stated that another tiger had taken her brother to be his slave for life. While some may say there are too many pages, I think the amount of pages doesn't matter anyways, although I like the amount, and reading more pages is a great challenge. thissection. The child of immigrants from Taiwan, Grace Lin was born in the United States in 1974 and grew up in New York State. At the end of the story, Ba says that he thinks nobody is meant to find Minli, just as the magistrate was not meant to find the paper that explained the secret of happiness. For example: Teachers may opt for their own method of discussion. Minli's brave, clever, kind, and earnest character is utterly endearing. Dragon cannot fly. WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON - Charissa's Kid Lit. Chronicles Her mother, Ma, complains that these stories are foolish and harmful. It is late at night when Minli tiptoes into her familys hut and crawls into bed. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Explain your design ideaswhat Where The Mountain Meets The Moon Character Analysis She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest for the ultimate answer.This is a wonderous novel with an epic journey and memorable characters in the tradition of The Wizard of Oz. Frightened for her new-found friend, Minli goes for help and finds two twins: A-Fu and Da-Fu. She grows up on tales of magical people and places from Ba, her father. publication in traditional print. [4] Have students read the second paragraph. Order our Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Lesson Plans, teaching or studying Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. 2. Log in here. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Character Descriptions The main characters are Minli, Ba, Ma and Dragon. The Old Man instructs Minli to remove a rock on Dragons head it has been keeping Dragon from flight. The stone lion gives the thread to Dragon. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Grace Lin 4.30 45,753 ratings5,600 reviews In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. While waiting in the Market of Green Abundance, Minli spends her coin buying a peach for a beggar. Because of Minli's sacrifice to help a friend, she and her family receive everything they could ever have hoped for. They travel all through the night, searching. They keep journals to record the challenges Minli faced, and how she met the challenges. As the novel ends, the goldfish man glimpses Minli in a courtyard, looking up at the place where the Mountain meets the moon., "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Extended Summary" eNotes Publishing Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Characters Activity A fantasy crossed with Chinese folklore, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a timeless story reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz and Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon. Every day, the family works in. He tells her that she must hurry up and ask what she wants to know. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon begins with a description of a small girl, Minli, and her parents, who live in a poor village at the base of Fruitless Mountain. One day, after a goldfish salesman promises that his wares will bring good luck, Minli spends one of her only two coins in an effort to help her family. It was a boring day, and I tried to figure out what to do. 2020 GRACE LIn, all rights reserved. How does this character change over time? Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin | Puddle Reader All storyboards are private and secure to the portal using enterprise-class file security hosted by Microsoft Azure. Minli thus begins a traditional quest. This is quite a minor character. Be sure to use evidence from the story to support your ideas. Tell students that they are going to use their three sentences as a basis for writing a kind of story called a personal narrative. Ask them to tell the groups how they felt after dealing with this challenge. Spurrier, Leslie. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.5:Explain how a series of chapters, scenes, or stanzas fits together to provide the overall structure of a particular story, drama, or poem. Under house have students brainstorm as many words as they can for house: mansion, shack, apartment, rancher, hut, etc. When the magistrate heard about this, he decided that the family must have been trying to trick him. How important are stories in your life? All of the villagers, along with Minli's family, are also very poor, as farming is difficult in the hard and dry land due to Fruitless Mountain being the broken and lonely heart of the immortal Jade Dragon, a dragon that once brought rain to the Earth. The blooms of the flowering trees also provide the antidote to the Green Tiger's poison, which saved Dragon. She realizes that her family cannot afford to feed a pet. As an optional activity, they may make a bulletin board or wall display that shows the embedded stories within the frame of the main narrative. *, Can u describe the character 'talking goldfish'. Ma and Ba say that Minli is too little to do such a thing. Back in their hut by Fruitless Mountain, Ma tells Ba a story. Then, my mind suddenly shouted, How about that book from the library? I bolted to get the book and started to read. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Study Guide: Analysis Powerful Stories About Martin Luther King Jr. These characters are the parents of the heroine. 1. Mountain Meets the Moon . The second is the date of Chinese Lesson (write the Chinese characters for mountain and moon) What do you think is the secret of happiness? She meets an orphan boy who lives alone with only a water buffalo for company, and she tells him that she needs to see the king. As the Get Where the Mountain Meets the Moon from Amazon.com. A stage adaptation based on Lin's book was performed at Wheelock Family Theater in Boston, in April 2014. Minli is a young girl, the only daughter of her mother, Ma, and father, Ba. All storyboards are public and can be viewed and copied by anyone. Meanwhile, as Dragon waits outside of the city, he receives a string of destiny from one of the Guardians of the City. JOIN GRACES MAILING LISTYoull receive her Author Newsletter in your email inbox! The twins explain that their village's name is due to raining seeds that fall from the moon every night, allowing flowering trees to bloom there. The author can choose to leave the storyboard public or mark it as Unlisted. Minli watches him go, feeling puzzled that he is so happy. Minli realizes what is truly important in life and is thankful for her family. This strikes Minli because The Old Man is what she thought, only a character from her father's stories. If the boys in the class seem likely to find it difficult to identify with a female protagonist, suggest that they imagine a twin brother accompanying her on her journey. As she works, Minli wishes she could change her familys fortune. Andrew Medlar, School Library Journal*Starred Review* Gr 3-6 Living in the shadow of the Fruitless Mountain, Minli and her parents spend their days working in the rice fields, barely growing enough to feed themselves. Then ask them to share their best sentence with the class. Seeing her mothers unhappiness, the daughter grew discontented and went away to try to change her familys fortune. Interwoven with Minlis quest are tales told by her father and by those she meets on the way. StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The twins befriend Minli and want to help her. This book, a celebration of the importance of imagination and story, introduces upper elementary students to Chinese culture and tradition. . In the morning, she sneaks out of the house and releases the fish into the river. Dragon realizes that this must be the borrowed line, so he tells them about Minli. Place on parchment lined baking sheet. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon | NEH-Edsitement Students will provide detailed information regarding how the characters interact with the main characters, as well as challenges the characters face. Ask students to write one final paragraph in which they compare themselves with Minli. He remembers a story he has recently heard about a family from the area giving a dragons pearl to the king of the City of Bright Moonlightwho responded by bestowing the familys whole town with generous gifts of seeds and equipment for farmers. From the beautiful design and the breathtaking full-color illustrations throughout, to the gentle humor and touching prose, this book is truly a gem. As you read, take notes on the characters by answering the questions. Sift (A) into a mixing bowl. Summarize this character Subjects: English Language Arts, Reading, Vocabulary Grades: Not Grade Specific Types: Ba smiles and says that Minlis return is the best fortune of all. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Curious, she follows it and finds a red dragon crying a river of tears. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Characters - www.BookRags.com Read more 2009 Grace Lin (P)2020 Hachette Audio Listening Length 4 hours and 58 minutes Author Along the way, Minli meets a special friend. When he arrives, he is amazed to be greeted as an old friend. Where The Mountain Meets The Moon Character Analysis Minli Minli is the protagonist and hero in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. How can the links between the frame story and the embedded Chinese folktales be represented to show how they reinforce the underlying themes of courage and generosity? online is the same, and will be the first date in the citation. I think this story was okay but it was lacking adventure and it was hard to follow along. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon, who knows the answers to all of lifes questions. This character came to life from the magic ink by which it was painted and flew away. This character visits the Village of the Fruitless Mountain early in the book and at the very end. Already a member? She's dutiful, empathetic, curious, and resourceful. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon | NEH-Edsitement I went down to the cellar the other day. When they have finished, have them compare the results with a partner to see what different effects they get when they use vivid language. Use evidence from the text to argue who is the most generous character in the book. She walks deep into the forest and travels all through the night, stopping to sleep at first light. This outline can serve as a reference for the teacher for the entire lesson.). She does not like for Ba to tell the stories to Minli because she thinks he is filling her head with ideas. Why did Ma change from being envious of other peoples wealth to being content? Goldfish [Ripping a page from the Book of Fortune will not change one's fate.] 3. Ask students to choose a page at random and read aloud the most vivid sentence they can find to the class. However, that is far from the end of this intricate tale. [1] [2] The novel received a 2010 Newbery Honor [3] and the 2010 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature. Plus, there is barely enough rice to feed the people there, causing Minli to develop a wish for good fortune. https://www.storyboardthat.com/lesson-plans/where-the-mountain-meets-the-moon-by-grace-lin/characters, This Storyboard That activity is part of the lesson plans for.